The History of Heavy Podcast

1975 saw the last of six consecutive, nearly perfect studio albums from the classic lineup of Osbourne, Iommi, Butler and Ward. Sabotage continued the cocaine fueled, high energy experimentation of Vol 4. and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath while adding a new found rage to the formula, brought on by the embittered legal dispute that they were in at the time with their former manager. The resulting intensity of tracks like "Hole in the Sky," "The Writ" and of course "Symptom of the Universe," (which essentially invents thrash metal) makes the album an essential listen in their truly essential catalog. HHP Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qkURdYib8hLz8s20D9yTC?si=1526168526854a62 HHP on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@the.history.of.hea?_t=ZP-8z7me40bcbu&_r=1 HHP Instagram https://instagram.com/the_history_of_heavy @historyofheavy

Miles Davis is one of the most important and influential musicians in music history. He was an extremely talented trumpeter, bandleader and composer. He was at the forefront of the bebop, cool jazz, modal jazz, avant-garde jazz and fusion movements. He helped discover and develop massive talents including John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter. But what were Miles' contributions to "heavy?" What was heavy about his style, and his approach? What was sonically heavy about his music and what heavy artists did he influence across genres? We attempt to unpack it all. RIP Sonny Rollins RIP Rob Base HHP Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qkURdYib8hLz8s20D9yTC?si=1526168526854a62 HHP on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@the.history.of.hea?_t=ZP-8z7me40bcbu&_r=1 HHP Instagram https://instagram.com/the_history_of_heavy @historyofheavy

UK Space Rock pioneers, Hawkwind formed in 1969 and as of April 2025 have released 37 studio albums. Most significant to this podcast are the three released from 1972-1975 (Dorm Fasol Latido, Hall of the Mountain Grill and Warrior on the Edge of Time) in that they all include one Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister on bass. Lemmy was kicked out of the band for amphetamine-fuled "erratic behavior" in 1975 but not before he penned one last song for the band, "Motorhead," which became the b-side to the "Kings of Speed" single. He would take that song to much larger significance with his next project but this episode explores what the man brought to Hawkwind and how their music in general fits into our on-going chronology of heavy. The Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride for prostate Cancer Awareness - SUPPORT DAVE! https://gentlemansride.com/fundraiser/dave-lieberman Recommended Listening, Watching & Reading This Episode's Song: "Motorhead" by Hawkwind (1975) https://open.spotify.com/track/353xOwAdKAtXeIRVD65PhZ?si=81731de6bc1749db "Motörhead" by Motörhead (1977) https://open.spotify.com/track/2iZYdnXBFW4r54HhQKanlg?si=fddaf3430d2b445d "8 Miles High" by Hüsker Dü https://open.spotify.com/track/2LXPIpt45CJ2dorhMNCE0F?si=9678cb04fe474169 The Pink Fairies https://open.spotify.com/artist/45BIdHR6MPeNr1aNT10GJE?si=0v0wRmEXShK9qNsQzZ2VXQ The Hall of the Mountain Grill - Hawkwind studio album https://open.spotify.com/album/0CIh8QCK9o0mKyzzNWzjUZ?si=KVafJkQGRjmKXQCDTpvAAQ HHP Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qkURdYib8hLz8s20D9yTC?si=1526168526854a62 HHP on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@the.history.of.hea?_t=ZP-8z7me40bcbu&_r=1 HHP Instagram https://instagram.com/the_history_of_heavy @historyofheavy

Perhaps no band better exemplifies the 1970's than the "velvet thunder" of Foghat. Their first three albums, released between 1973 and 1975, along with their 1977 Live album are perfect time capsules of the era and are preserved in sonic ember as representations of the sound that would become known as 70's Arena Rock. Sadly the developing sounds of heavy metal and punk would largely designate Foghat as irrelevant and even later genres of loud music also failed to give the band any due credit while heaping endless praise on their 70's peers including Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Aerosmith. On this episode we offer them some long overdue appreciation.

The youth in West Germany circa the early 1970's had significantly more reason to be pissed off than the British or American punks of the late seventies. They were lacking direction and inspiration in a country that was still in the shadow of its Nazi-led government barely two decades removed. They had no interest in the dominant traditions of German folk or American pop and sought to create something new. What they came up with was a propulsive, groove-laden, hypnotic sound that leaned heavily into repetition, extended improvisation, and early synthesizers, while avoiding hard rock's bombast or progs showy musicianship. Hamburg's Faust were early merchants of the sound and the lead track from their forth album, appropriately titled, Faust iV was named for the genre that they would help create and go on to inspire hundreds of musicians that would give birth to multiple, subsequent genres including ambient, techno, post-punk, new-age, and post-rock.

Betty Davis was well ahead of her time. She was a wildly flamboyant funk diva who combined the gritty emotional realism of Tina Turner, the futurist fashion sense of David Bowie, and the trendsetting flair of Miles Davis. Her debut LP was released in 1973 going on to influence dozens of powerful, independent female icons to follow, including Donna Summer, Patty Smith, Debbie Harry, The Runaways and Stevie Nicks. Her music still sounds fresh, in your face and badass today. HHP Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qkURdYib8hLz8s20D9yTC?si=1526168526854a62 HHP on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@the.history.of.hea?_t=ZP-8z7me40bcbu&_r=1 HHP Instagram https://instagram.com/the_history_of_heavy @historyofheavy

Necromandus were managed by Tony Iommi, signed to Vertigo Records, supported Sabbath on the VOl 4 tour and recorded their debut album in 1973. So why hadn't we ever heard of them until a few weeks ago? HHP Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qkURdYib8hLz8s20D9yTC?si=1526168526854a62 HHP on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@the.history.of.hea?_t=ZP-8z7me40bcbu&_r=1 HHP Instagram https://instagram.com/the_history_of_heavy @historyofheavy

Another year in the bag and if we're honest, 2025 largely sucked. It sucked on a global level, it sucked on a national level, it sucked on a local level and honestly it sucked on a personal level, But what didn't suck was the music of 2025. Great new artists emerged, great albums were released and dozens of old bands, records and songs were discovered. We discuss it all. Here's to a better 2026. Happy New Year!!! Recommended Listening, Watching & Reading Sanguiaugabogg - Hideous Aftermath https://open.spotify.com/album/7y5OWsiatwngkMtaPXgyET?si=Scx_LB3QTb6pV82c8YirCg Greet Death - Die in Love https://open.spotify.com/album/4BMFHGrHTIRSPvSI6S9UKo?si=w5yj8TSHRMSRlPvGYL-gNA Khruangabin https://open.spotify.com/artist/2mVVjNmdjXZZDvhgQWiakk?si=0ezp2myaQo-4v2Ze_nXj6Q Glass Beams https://open.spotify.com/artist/1LTFJvVvRw7ghAyThxYmnF?si=Wet-p2eYRn28SkbfZjnQOw Boneflower - Reveries https://open.spotify.com/album/6WwVhoHDfdvaOkRXVzBUVE?si=qR9oOZwYRt6jXuhHhkM5Jw Early Moods https://open.spotify.com/album/5kxOks7J5KpSTCEv7afrYd?si=wIrWdhADSBeSlkW7EL-ujQ They Are Gutting A Body of Water - LOTTO https://open.spotify.com/album/5oX9RPR1fBvHzpgtmxVdPI?si=x_YC23yXShSFXXF8x1ZG3Q Peth - Merchant of Death https://open.spotify.com/album/06Uyd3LZLNMWpQ0QH5KKQn?si=6t6NK0bBQsib6JrVVCpOiw Mount Salem - Endless https://open.spotify.com/album/57VCu6Lt5lN95Ty5dP7MNH?si=iUE1xsaGSRCldwx4rwt0jQ Dead Witches - The Final Exorcism https://open.spotify.com/album/2DhvzMNZoOycDnPoNR27A4?si=VhLXZBynQ2G8-RLKrLZ1Kg Swans - Birthing https://open.spotify.com/album/05rmFti1xKL3h09CGx67kc?si=mR0l6sf9TSOIUOoU-YUCzg Slomosa https://open.spotify.com/artist/0l7GXb53ndWn97ul8Hpfzd?si=_h8LiL5_S4-OFVESqOanhA HHP Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qkURdYib8hLz8s20D9yTC?si=1526168526854a62 HHP on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@the.history.of.hea?_t=ZP-8z7me40bcbu&_r=1 HHP Instagram https://instagram.com/the_history_of_heavy @historyofheavy

Edgar Winter is a freak. A multi-instrumental virtuoso who led his chart topping band as singer-songwriter while also serving as a session musician on dozens of chart topping hits by the likes of Meatloaf, Tina Turner and David Lee Roth. His music spans southern rock, the blues, fusion and blue-eyed soul and on The Edgar Winter Group's debut album, its lone instrumental track "Frankenstein" he proves that he can also get heavy with the best of them. Recommended Listening, Watching & Reading "Guitarin' Safari" Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/59p775CaVKb1iYa5cakkpe?si=eaa3da57b8b0423e HHP Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qkURdYib8hLz8s20D9yTC?si=1526168526854a62 HHP on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@the.history.of.hea?_t=ZP-8z7me40bcbu&_r=1 HHP Instagram https://instagram.com/the_history_of_heavy

Their third studio LP is arguably Black Sabbath's masterpiece. Eight classic songs in less than thrity five minutes that would collectively spark not only the inspiration of hundreds of aspiring musicians but also launch a multitude of hard rock and heavy metal genres to come, including: stoner rock/metal, doom metal, sludge metal, grunge, progressive metal and groove/southern metal. From Tony Iommi's iconic cough that opens "Sweet Leaf" to the dark, heavy salvo of "Into the Void," the boys from Birmingham lay the blueprint for decades of heavy music to come, cementing Master of Reality as one of the most important records of all time. HHP Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qkURdYib8hLz8s20D9yTC?si=1526168526854a62 HHP on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@the.history.of.hea?_t=ZP-8z7me40bcbu&_r=1 HHP Instagram https://instagram.com/the_history_of_heavy @historyofheavy

Alice Coltrane was a lot of things; she was a musician, a composer, an activist and a spiritual leader. She was also a genius who almost single handedly introduced the harp to jazz while making some of the most transcendent music of the late sixties and early seventies. Her influence can be felt across many heavy genres including drone, stoner metal, sludge, post rock and experimental metal. We cover it all from Sonic Youth to Sunn O))) and from Rush to Radiohead. Recommended Listening, Watching & Reading Radiohead "Dollars and Cents" https://open.spotify.com/track/0kSDNLOdJqpGhV2vtVFWmS?si=9482de1f011d4d79 Sunn O))) "Alice" https://open.spotify.com/track/7n6WNQidHGzHm0TQHWV7aH?si=5d47fe9e76cb4fb3 Flying Lotus "Drips/Aunti's Harp" https://open.spotify.com/track/0g4THD0mERaEqP64uSaXlq?si=8fb1fdcb485f4753 HHP Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qkURdYib8hLz8s20D9yTC?si=1526168526854a62 HHP on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@the.history.of.hea?_t=ZP-8z7me40bcbu&_r=1 HHP Instagram https://instagram.com/the_history_of_heavy @historyofheavy

The Who are one of rock's most restless innovators. From spearheading the Mod youth explosion in Britain in the 60's to turning smashed guitars and drums into an art form, they constantly redefined what a heavy rock band could be. They practically invented the rock opera with Tommy and Quadrophenia, set the gold standard for the live concert experience and wrote some of the greatest songs in rock history. We threw a dart at their superb catalog while down at our local pub to determine what song to talk about and we hit the last track on Who's Next which happens to include one of the most iconic heavy moments in heavy music history. HHP Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qkURdYib8hLz8s20D9yTC?si=1526168526854a62 HHP on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@the.history.of.hea?_t=ZP-8z7me40bcbu&_r=1 Instagram https://instagram.com/the_history_of_heavy @historyofheavy